Connecticut House Bill HB05874

Connecticut 2019 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/23/19
• Refer: 1/23/19

Caption

An Act Concerning The Court's Ability To Order Supervised Visitation Of A Minor Child In A Family Relations Matter.

Impact

The proposed legislation would have a significant impact on family law within the state. By establishing that supervised visitation can only be ordered in cases where official abuse or neglect findings exist, the bill potentially limits the courts' discretion. This could lead to fewer instances where supervised visitation is mandated, altering the dynamics of custody arrangements and possibly impacting the welfare of children involved in contentious custody disputes.

Summary

House Bill 05874 seeks to amend Section 46b-56 of the general statutes to regulate the court's authority concerning supervised visitation of minor children in family relations matters. The bill specifically proposes that a court may only limit a parent's visitation rights to supervised visits if there is a finding from the Department of Children and Families indicating that the parent has abused or neglected the child. This change aims to protect parental rights while ensuring children's safety in cases of proven abuse or neglect.

Conclusion

Overall, HB05874 represents a critical attempt to balance parental rights with child safety in family law. Stakeholder discussions will likely emphasize the importance of ensuring that the standards for supervised visitation adequately protect children while still respecting the rights of parents who may face false allegations or unfounded claims.

Contention

Notable points of contention may arise from this bill, particularly around the interpretation of what constitutes 'abuse' or 'neglect.' Opponents may argue that the bill could enable parental rights to be exercised without sufficient oversight when issues of potential harm to the child exist. As the legislation potentially constrains the court's capacity to act in favor of child safety where there are allegations of abuse or neglect without formal findings, advocacy groups may raise concerns about the implications for vulnerable children.